diff --git a/Tools/AP_Bootloader/AP_Bootloader.cpp b/Tools/AP_Bootloader/AP_Bootloader.cpp
index 58bde11adc..947b679e46 100644
--- a/Tools/AP_Bootloader/AP_Bootloader.cpp
+++ b/Tools/AP_Bootloader/AP_Bootloader.cpp
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ int main(void)
     while (!ext_flash.init()) {
         // keep trying until we get it working
         // there's no future without it
-        chThdSleep(1000);
+        chThdSleep(chTimeMS2I(20));
     }
 #endif